For most new dieters and fitness enthusiasts, fast loss of weight is usually the primary goal. However, this should be avoided as it will provide only fleeting and temporary benefits. The better strategy is to lose weight slowly, using a combination of cardiovascular exercise, weight training and a healthy diet.

Most personal trainers and fitness experts agree that fast loss of weight is a bad thing, and many feel that losing more than two pounds per week is unwise and can even be dangerous.

One important thing to know about fast loss of weight is that much of the weight you lose at the beginning of a diet and exercise program is likely to be water weight. Losing water weight is not true weight loss, as the body will quickly replace that water weight as you eat and drink.

In addition, those who enter an exercise program in search of fast loss of weight may be disappointed, since gaining muscle may actually result in a higher number on the bathroom scale.

This is actually a good thing, however, and fast loss of weight is not the entire story. The fact is that lean, healthy tissue weighs more than fat, so you may well be increasing your fitness level without seeing that fast loss of weight you were hoping for. The best thing is to continue with a sensible exercise program and a healthy diet, and to monitor not only your weight but your level of body fat as well.

It is best to focus on losing fat, not simply on fast loss of weight. Losing fat tissue while gaining muscle is the best way to increase fitness, and you may well see the difference in the way your clothes fit long before you see any weight loss. The goal of any fitness program is to get fit, so focusing entirely on quick weight loss misses the point entirely.

In general, it is very difficult to achieve a fast loss of weight of more than 1½ to 2 pounds a week without losing muscle mass in the process. It is very important to avoid losing muscle when dieting, so keep this 1½ to 2 pound guideline in mind as you go forward with your weight loss and exercise program. It is much better to keep your muscle than to try for fast loss of weight at the expense of your healthy muscle tissue.

There are some important guidelines to keep in mind to avoid fast loss of weight while still increasing your overall level of fitness. The most important things you can do for your body include:

Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is one of the most important parts of any diet and exercise program, whether the goal is fast loss of weight or not. Water acts as a natural appetite suppressant, and water also helps your body metabolize food more efficiently.

Eat regular meals. Many dieters assume that skipping meals is the best way to achieve fast loss of weight but in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Missing a meal makes your body think it is starving, and this causes it to hold on to its remaining fat stores more tightly, making weight loss harder to achieve.

Get plenty of fiber. Eating fiber helps the body to work more efficiently, and fiber may help you achieve sensible but fast loss of weight. Foods high in fiber tend to be both low in calories and very filling, providing a feeling of satisfaction while still allowing for fast loss of weight.

It is certainly understandable why fast weight loss is such a popular goal, and none of us likes to stand on the scale and see no results. It is important to remember, however, that being fit and lean is much more important than just fast loss of weight!

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